Last month we were delighted to hear the news that our founder Susie Schofield had been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to journalism and to diversity in the journalism industry.
This was welcomed by the journalists and voices across the media and charity sector. Susie and the Trust have had many messages of congratulations for this award.
Robin Lustig, who worked closely with John at the World Tonight, wrote “I can think of one person in particular who would be beyond chuffed — and oh so proud — to know that all your hard work has been recognised in this way”.
We have highlighted some more responses below.
The BBC’s Education editor, Branwen Jeffreys, said “This is just the best news. For decades Susie Schofield has worked to support young journalists and promote diversity in newsrooms. Setting up the John Schofield Trust was an act of remarkable courage after the death of her husband John. He was respected and popular at Radio 4.”
Director of Journalism and Deputy CEO of BBC News, Jonathan Munro said “This is fantastic news […] and so well deserved. [Susie is] an inspiration.”
Head of BBC Young Reporter and Assistant Editor, UK Insights at BBC News, Josie Verghese said “delighted for Susie – brilliant to see how the John Schofield Trust evolves and supports the next generation of [journalists]!”
Senior Producer and Assistant Editor at Sky News, James Scurry said “huge congrats to the John Schofield Trust’s founder Susie Schofield on being awarded an MBE […] JST is a trailblazing charity doing amazing work to foster the talent of young journalists coming up through the ranks.”
POLITICO reporter and 2023 Fellow Bethany Dawson said, “I’ve only been a John Schofield Fellow since December and can already say it has made a monumental difference to my career. This is totally deserved, congratulations Susie Schofield!”
ITV Regional News reporter Lauren Hall said “Huge congratulations Susie – delighted for you! I was lucky enough to be on the first year of the John Schofield Trust mentoring scheme which has made such a difference to hundreds of journalists starting out in their careers.”
Channel 4 News Editor Esme Wren added her voice, saying “congratulations to Susie Schofield, [this is] truly deserved recognition for her significant contribution to improving diversity in journalism via the John Schofield Trust.”
In a week when the honours system has got some very bad press I want to tell you about an amazing woman called Susie Schofield. Susie lost her husband John, a BBC reporter, when he was killed on assignment in a war zone aged just 29. 1/ pic.twitter.com/aNI8rjWWEi
— Emma Maxwell (@emmamaxwell12) June 17, 2023
For Editors: The John Schofield Trust was founded in 1996 by Susie Schofield after her husband John Schofield was killed whilst covering the civil war in Yugoslavia for the BBC, aged just 29. Today the Trust is the leading social mobility journalism charity in the UK, working hard to diversify the industry through acclaimed mentoring programmes. Hundreds of journalists in the UK and Republic of Ireland have been mentored by the Trust or have volunteered as mentors. Each year the National Council for the Training of Journalists report into diversity in journalism demonstrates how far the industry needs to change to become representative of the UK population. More on the Trust and how it works is available here. For more information please contact david@johnschofieldtrust.org.uk